South Africa · WHALE WATCHING
Southern rights are in Walker Bay from about June to November, with humpbacks and Bryde’s whales along the same coast. These 15 boat trips leave from Hermanus, Gansbaai and Cape Town; below is what each costs, how long you are at sea, and the sailing policy when the swell is up.
Boat whale watching from Hermanus New Harbour, 90 minutes on the water. Expect close sightings, dolphins, seals, and great crew guidance.
“Amazing ! Ran on time the guide was informative . We saw soooooo many dolphins it was like something out of a dream . We also saw all three possible whale types. Looking at the other boats in the harbor -we felt this company had the nicest boats”
Hermanus whale and dolphin cruise with a specialist guide, light refreshments, and possible close encounters off the coast and Walker Bay.
“The best experience ever - could have not been any better! A must do - perfect!”
A slow, small-group marine wildlife cruise from Port Elizabeth to St. Croix Island for whales, dolphins, and African penguins in Algoa Bay.
“Fantastisk at se pingvinerne og opleve delfinerne som vi sejlede med i lang tid. Alle på båden var meget deltagende og bidrog med mange interessante fortællinger om både pingvinerne og delfinerne.”
Speedboat whale watching from Gansbaai to the Hermanus area, with commentary, small group size, and chances to see southern right whales and more.
“The day was incredible, it was sunny and a little cold! We saw a lot of whale, we were lucky! The driver was very good and kind. All was according to the schedule. If there is something I would have like was to return by the coast road.”
A 2-hour Plettenberg Bay whale watching cruise on a 400 hp speedboat, with a real chance at Southern Right and Humpback whales.
“We loved the whale watching trip. We saw whales and seals. The guides were friendly and keen to ensure we got the most out of the trip. We loved the launch and return of the boat from the beach!”
Whale watching from Gansbaai to the De Keldar cliffs for Southern right whales, plus dolphins, sharks, and penguins on a 2-hour cruise.
“We chose Ivanhoe as the boats are not too big, making it a more personal experience. We soon found the majestic Southern Right Whales, several Mums with Calf’s . They swam right along side the boat, so relaxed . Very emotional experience. The tour is only two hours long , we could all have stayed out longer . Try to choose a calm day, as spotting the whales is so much easier.”
Two-hour Knysna Heads whale cruise from Thesen Island. Spot humpbacks and southern right whales with a spotter-guided boat.
“Excellent, saw bottlenose Dolphins and a Bryde whale followed the boat for around 25 minutes so we got to seyit surface numerous times just metres away. My wife got seasick towards the end and a very attentive member of tge crew made sure she was ok until we disembarked. Highly recommend.”
2-hour Hermanus catamaran whale watching from the new harbour, with a whale specialist, light refreshments, and great viewing.
“Informative pre meeting, very good guide informed us during the whole tour. Good service. Even the captain took the time to chat”
Cape Town to Hermanus guided tour with coastal photo stops, Southern Right whale viewing, urban wine tasting, and Peregrine farm treats.
“What a wonderful experience and interesting stops along the way! It's a beautiful drive with interesting stops and nuggets of information along the way. Hermanus is a beautiful town any day of the year. 'Opted for the additional sightseRead more”
See **southern right whales** from De Kelders cliffs on a small, never-crowded 2-hour boat trip with a live English guide in Gansbaai.
“Once in a lifetime experience 😍 Had a great guide, perfect communication before the tour and was so blessed to see the incredible whales! Thanks for this opportunity 😍”
Full-day Hermanus whale watching from Cape Town, with seaside towns, Harold Porter Gardens, and optional close-up boat views.
“Nice trip. Hermanas is lovely. Nice coastline. Unfortunately no whales and no boats as it was windy. Still a beautiful place”
Morning drive from Cape Town to Gansbaai, then a 2-hour whale-watching boat trip with expert guidance and scenic stops.
“I had a great time with Aretha. Saw lots of delphins and Southern Right whales. Couldn’t be any happier. Definitely one of the highlights of my adventure in South Africa.”
A peaceful land-based whale watching walk in Hermanus with a private guide, Whale House Museum entry, and coastal viewpoints. From $57.51.
“Alles perfekt geklappt. Percy hat dieses Erlebnis für mich toll gemacht..auf individuelle Wünsche eingegangen..Man merkt dass er seinen Job gern macht und dann aber auch noch die Extrameile geht und auch mit seiner Kamera Fotos macht zur Erinnerung . Danke”
Permitted close-encounter whale and dolphin watching in Knysna, with onboard commentary, bottled water, and park fees included.
“Was amazing to see the whale in action so closely. Most amazing experience ever. Definitely a recommendation to do if you ever can”
A 90-minute Plettenberg Bay whale cruise with surf-launch thrills, seal-colony chances, and guided wildlife spotting for $77 per person.
“It was a very exciting experience The guide was great. He explained a lot, and it showed a lot. it was a really great experience”
From the cableway to the Kruger gate, sorted by the kind of day you want.
